The North American Aerospace Defense Command conducted exercise Falcon Virgo over the national capital region in November 2024. FIRST AIR FORCE
THE WATCH STAFF
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) executed an air-defense exercise in the Washington, D.C., region in November 2024 that integrated U.S. Air Force F-16 warplanes, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army helicopters and Army and Civil Air Patrol planes, demonstrating the interoperability of U.S. warplanes and civilian aircraft. Operation Falcon Virgo, conducted by the Continental U.S. NORAD Region, is a routine mission supporting Operation Noble Eagle, a NORAD exercise that incorporates all air defense and air sovereignty missions in North America.
The two-hour exercise, which took place between midnight and 2 a.m. on November 20, 2024, involved some aircraft flying as low as 1,000 feet and encompassed scenarios such as air space restriction violations, a simulated hijacking and encounters with unknown aircraft, according to a NORAD news release. In addition to the F-16s, a Coast Guard MH65-D Dolphin helicopter, an Army C-12 Huron aircraft and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and a Civilian Air Patrol C-182 plane participated, the release stated.
“Since its inception, NORAD aircraft have identified and intercepted potential air threats to North America in the execution of its aerospace warning and aerospace control missions; and, under its maritime warning mission, maintains a watchful eye over Canadian and U.S. internal waterways and maritime approaches,” the release stated.
Falcon Virgo hones NORAD’s intercept and identification operations during airspace security events, according to a NORAD fact sheet. “These exercises occur around the National Capital Region or other locations in the United States … Falcon Virgo is supported by several organizations including the Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and Civil Air Patrol … NORAD carefully plans and closely controls the exercises,” the fact sheet stated.
Noble Eagle began after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and reflects NORAD’s mission of defending Canadian and U.S. air and maritime domains. In addition to the Continental NORAD Region, the Alaskan and Canadian NORAD regions also participate in Noble Eagle, adapting training scenarios that fit each region’s potential threats.
Falcon Virgo’s emphasis on scenarios appropriate to the National Capital Region have involved Civil Air Patrol pilots “who pose as nighttime intruders, penetrating restricted airspace over Washington,” The Washington Post reported. The Civil Air Patrol is a national organization that helps authorities in emergencies. Civil Air Patrol pilots tracked German U-boats off U.S. shores in World War II, coordinated bomb shelters during the Cold War and aided in finding military crash sites.